US1768336A - Tube-polishing machine and method of polishing tubes - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1930- H D T ENS TUBE POLISHING MACHINE AND METHOD OF POLISHING TUBES Filed Nov. 20, 1926 I N VEN TOR.

HoRA c5 0 STEVE/Vs He, 6 By A TTORNE Y.

. Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORAJE D. STEVENS, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TUBE-TOLISHING MACHINE AND METHOD OF POLISHING TUBES Application filed November 20, 1920. Serial No. 149,724.

This invention relates to tube polishing machines for use in rubber factories and to methods of polishing tubes. 4

The general purpose of the invention is to rovide a machine for cleaning or polishing inner tubes subsequent to their vulcanization in readiness for shipping and also an improved method for cleaning or polishing an inner tube.

The foregoing and other purposes are accomplished by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the procedure described in conjunction with the following brief description of said device. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of apparatus embodying and adapted to carrying out the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a supporting frame or table having fixedly journaled upon the opposite sides adjacent one end thereof rollers 11, 11 of the standard crown pulley type projecting laterally from each side of the table and arranged to be driven by a common drive sprocket 12 over which is trained a chain 13 driven by a sprocket 14 through suitable reduction gearing shown at 15 by a pulley 16 in turn driven by a belt 17 from a motor 18.

Rollers 19, 19 similar to rollers 11 are arranged to be shifted away from the latter by being mounted upon shiftable journals 20, 2O operable in guides 21, 21 by piston rods 22, 22 connected thereto and operable by pistons, indicated at 23, in cylinder 24:, 24 to which fluid pressure may be supplied through independent control valves 25, 25 and conduits 26, 26.

Return of rollers 19 to their normal positions may be effected by means of yielding connections 27, 27 preferably rubber .bands, engaged about pins 28, 28 connected to journals 20 and pins 29, 29 fixed upon the support 10.

In practicing the method with the above described apparatus, the inner tubes to be cleaned and polished are placed over the pairs of rollers 11 and 19 in the manner of belts b operatives standing on opposite sides 0 the machine with the valves of the inner tube projecting outwardly (Figure 2). The valves 25 are operated to supply pressure to cylinders 2e, whereupon rollers 19 are moved away from rollers 11, stretching the tube which is driven by rollers 11.

While the tubes are driven, as described above, the operatives apply cleaning cloths or other devices to both sides of the tubes, the cloths being saturated with a suitable cleaning solution such as a soapy water and benzol mixture. Since the tubes are stretched the cleaning action efi'ectively removes dirt, soapstone, etc., from the surfaces thereof.

When the tubes are cleaned the operatives operate valves 25 to release the fluid pressure and rollers 19 are pulled back to normal positions by bands 27, the cleaned tubes being removed from the machine.

The machine is adapted for the cleaning of either tubes vulcanized on straight mandrels or tubes cured on curved mandrels, the stretching of the tube being suflicient to prevent kinks in the latter.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ap aratus for cleaning inner tubes comprislng a fixedly journaled roller, a shiftably journaled roller, means normally holding the second roller in a position spaced from the first roller, means for shiftin the second roller from said position away rom the first roller, and means for driving the fixedl journaled roller. 5

2. Xpparatus for cleaning inner tubes comprising relatively movable rollers ada ted to receive a tube thereover, means or driving one of the rollers, and means for relatively moving the rollers to stretch the tube while it is driven by .said rollers.

'3'. Apparatus of the class described com prisin means for rapidly stretc an mner tu e, and means or axial] drivm said tube while it is held in stretc ed con 'tion,

4:. That method of cleanjn or polishing inner tubes com rising axia y dnvin the tube while stretc ing it, and a plying c eaning devices to the surfaces of t e tube.

. HORACE D. STEVENS.

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